As a member of the public in attendance at the March 27 meeting, I was in shock at what I witnessed. Mayor Fred Grant was, in fact, following “Robert’s Rules of Order” to control a meeting that Committeemen Decker and Bill Bumbernick, the two Republicans, were trying to disrupt.

Bumbernick left his seat and approached the crowd to give a presentation on the total debt of the town. It was not to discuss the specific item currently before the committee. Grant and the rest of the committee had not seen any of the information Decker was presenting.

The mayor stated repeatedly that he would work with Bumbernick and go over the information to ensure its accuracy and then place it on a future agenda. Bumbernick refused to return to his seat.

It is disgraceful to see how Decker and Bumbernick conduct themselves. Every meeting is an attack on our mayor. The committee has a hard time getting through the agenda because of the constant grandstanding and political attacks.

At one point, the committee was deadlocked 2-2 on an issue with Grant and Deputy Mayor Sam Giordano Jr. on one side, and Bumbernick and Jeff Craig on the other. Decker voted “no” to both sides.

He was asked repeatedly what his position was, to end the deadlock. He stated, “Make a motion and you’ll see.” This went on for some time.

This and other actions by Decker are a clear example of a new politician using the old tactic of fighting with the opposing party at all costs.

I would like to know as a taxpayer how much is it costing us to have our attorney and clerk sit at meetings for five hours rather than one or two because of the tactics being used by Decker and Bumbernick.

I would encourage everyone to come to a meeting and see what is happening with their own eyes, not by reading letters from a committeeman three months into his term, who is out to do nothing but attack.